Changes coming to Gaston County school board

Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 12:46 AM.

A school librarian will be opening another chapter as the newest Gastonia Township representative on the Gaston County Board of Education.

Dot Guthrie, a librarian at Crowders Creek Elementary in Clover, S.C., and retired Gaston County Schools educator, took home 39.6 percent of the votes to become the Gastonia Township representative in the three-way race for the seat.

“It’s a dream come true, and I do believe that I can personally be an asset to the board, especially since I’m already immersed in Common Core Standards, and that’ what Gaston County Schools has already adopted,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie said she was looking forward to seeing the vote totals but also concerned about whether she would have enough votes to win.

“I knew that I had done — like a very good student ought to do — my homework,” Guthrie said. “I had communicated to the community, expressed clearly my platform, and I was just waiting on them to give me a grade.”

Guthrie praised the other two who ran for the Gastonia seat, incumbent Alfred Current and retired principal Jerry Bostic. She said that all of the candidates are professionals who have been advocates for education.

“Perhaps maybe as a storyteller, maybe some of the children whom I told stories to are now parents,” Guthrie said. “Many adults were children when I was at the public library when I was telling my stories.”

A school librarian will be opening another chapter as the newest Gastonia Township representative on the Gaston County Board of Education.

Dot Guthrie, a librarian at Crowders Creek Elementary in Clover, S.C., and retired Gaston County Schools educator, took home 39.6 percent of the votes to become the Gastonia Township representative in the three-way race for the seat.

“It’s a dream come true, and I do believe that I can personally be an asset to the board, especially since I’m already immersed in Common Core Standards, and that’ what Gaston County Schools has already adopted,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie said she was looking forward to seeing the vote totals but also concerned about whether she would have enough votes to win.

“I knew that I had done — like a very good student ought to do — my homework,” Guthrie said. “I had communicated to the community, expressed clearly my platform, and I was just waiting on them to give me a grade.”

Guthrie praised the other two who ran for the Gastonia seat, incumbent Alfred Current and retired principal Jerry Bostic. She said that all of the candidates are professionals who have been advocates for education.

“Perhaps maybe as a storyteller, maybe some of the children whom I told stories to are now parents,” Guthrie said. “Many adults were children when I was at the public library when I was telling my stories.”

Guthrie said she plans to continue looking for ways to hire highly qualified teachers and would also like to have community forums where parents could come in and talk with school board members.

Bostic came in second with 34.5 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

“I think a wonderful lady won and I think she’s going to do a great job for the citizens of Gaston County. I congratulate her heavily on the fact that she did run,” Bostic said. “She’s up to date on what’s going on in education and we needed that.”

Bostic said he gave it his best shot, but he’s not planning to run for political office again. Education is changing so quickly that being away from classrooms for four years would leave him out of the loop.

Current took home 25.5 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results. He also congratulated Guthrie and Bostic on well run races.

“And certainly I have enjoyed my four years serving on the board. It’s just another chapter, and I’ll move on, and I wish Dot Guthrie the very best,” Current said. “I think she’ll do a fine job. I have no bitterness whatsoever. I think we can move on, and I’ll have a new chapter in my life.”

Howell takes at-large seat

A youth pastor will fill the unexpired at-large school board seat for the next two years.

Political newcomer Chris Howell beat out three other candidates running for Annette Carter’s at-large seat with 35.6 percent of votes, according to unofficial election results. Carter opted not to run for re-election after being appointed to fill the at-large seat left vacant when Ray Scarborough resigned soon after winning the seat in the 2010 election.

“I’m humbled that the people trust me enough to make a difference in the educational system for Gaston County,” said Howell, who is pastor to students at Flint Groves Baptist Church. “And there were a lot of people that worked hard in helping me. I’m humbled by the fact that the people voted on that versus last time when I was going for an appointment on the board.”

Howell was one of those seeking to fill Scarbrough’s at-large seat, but the school board chose Carter, a longtime school board member, to fill the vacancy.

Howell said he’s hoping to see some positive changes by working with whoever was elected Tuesday and the other members not up for re-election. Howell used a lot of social media to get the word out about his campaign. He also used his connections through the faith-based community to spread the word.

“I want to be about what Chris is about, not what somebody else is about,” Howell said.

Howell said being around students for his job helps him to have the student perspective and will help him as a school board member.

“I want to try to be a platform for the parents and the students and the teachers,” Howell said. “I want to try and make Gaston County Schools the best education option possible. I want to expand vocational opportunities.”

Cherry-Accurso, who works in sales for Fidelity Associates, came in second with 25.9 percent of the votes, according to unofficial election results. Cherry-Accurso was appointed to the school board to fill Ruth Angel’s Gastonia seat after she passed away in 2008. Mark Stephens beat out Cherry-Accurso in 2010 for the Gastonia seat. She was unavailable for comment Tuesday night.

Barber, executive director of Family Promise of Gaston County, an organization that works with homeless families, earned 22.3 percent of the votes. Anger, a home school teacher, received 15.7 percent of votes.

Ramsey defeats Helms in race for at-large Board of Education seat

Incumbent Jeff Ramsey received 62 percent of the vote to win an at-large seat on the Gaston County Board of Education.

Ramsey’s opponent, 32-year-old Josh Helms, received 37 percent of the 60,320 total votes cast. He plans to try again for a seat on the school board.

“Ramsey’s a great guy and I wish him the best and offer him all the support I can,” Helms said. “I was very happy to see the support I received. I thought it was a great turnout.”

This will be the second term on the board for Ramsey, 49. He wants to create partnerships with Gaston County commissioners and the Gaston Chamber to attract more industry and more people to the county.

“I’d like to thank all the voters who came out and supported me,” he said.

Incumbent retains Crowders Mountain Township seat

Kenny Lutz of Gastonia defeated opponents James Davison and Nick Huffman to retain a seat on the Gaston County Board of Education.

This marks Lutz’s third term on the board and he said his priority will be equality, to offer the same educational opportunities to all students in the county.

“I’m very glad that I won and I look forward to servicing the students of Gaston County for four more years,” Lutz said.

He believes the Board of Education is on the right path and said it has done a lot of good things in the past.

Cherryville seat

In the only unopposed school board race, Cherryville candidate Mark Upchurch was re-elected with 98.6 percent of the vote. Six hundred seventy four people wrote in a candidate for the Cherryville seat.

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.